Janssen

I have a confession to make. Since discovering the absolute genius that is audiobooks (see here for a primer on how to get started if you’ve never read with your ears before), I’m rapidly reverting back to the bookworm I was a child. It’s glorious. This month alone I’ve read, and started a moms book […]

Next month, I’ll be having my third child and my third girl. Which means that parenting little girls is always on my mind. Whether you have a single daughter or a whole slew of them, these books are full of great advice on how to handle all manner of parenting issues, from education to bullying […]

Got a little reader on your gift list this year? Our resident children’s librarian, Janssen, here today with one of our favorite gift ideas ever – the series starter. Here are all the details… Whether you’re looking for a book to give to a voracious reader or a struggling and reluctant reader, series are always a […]

Since we’ve already done a round-up of her favorite Thanksgiving books, I thought a collection of books centering on strong families from our resident children’s librarian, Janssen, would be perfect for this time of year. We went with chapter books so big kids can read them on their own or families can read a chapter […]

I know by now you are likely pretty sick of all things Ana, Elsa and Olaf. But here’s a parenting trick I learned a while back – you can use whatever your child is currently obsessing about to help foster a love of reading. It’s all about pointing out the similarities between the story they […]

We’ve got yet another resource for you to use with our free B.O.R.E.D. printable today. Our children’s librarian, Janssen, has rounded up the best audiobooks for calming active (aka hyper) kids. Read on for her picture book, easy reader and early chapter book recommendations! I’ve long been a big fan of audiobooks, so it’s no surprise that […]

The last time our in-house librarian, Janssen, put together a recreational reading list it was a huge hit so I asked her to give us another one for the summer. I’m uploading all of her picks to my mobile kindle reader so I can fit in a little summer reading while the kids play at […]

Whether you’re hosting the 4th of July BBQ this year or attending one, this super simple dessert idea is sure to please. Of course I love the festive presentation but my favorite part is that once you bite in you realize that what looks like a mini cup cake is actually a cookie. Plus it […]

How will anything ever be as good again? What book could possibly follow-up? For millions of kids, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are that way – books that, sometimes for the first time, give them that “I love to read!” feeling. These books follow Greg, who is starting middle school and trying to make […]

It’s Teacher Appreciation week next week – do you have something special picked out for the educators in your kids’ lives? If not we’ve totally got you covered with an easy DIY you can use to appreciate a teacher, for Mother’s Day, or even as a hostess thank-you gift. Here’s Janssen with the full details… One […]

I love Easter. One of the reasons I love it so much is that it heralds the arrival of spring. And after this winter, I think most of us could use a little spring. (I won’t lie – I love the chocolate too). Plus, my little girls love all things related to rabbits and baby […]

I love celebrating the holidays with my kids – they have such a knack for getting excited about each and every one! But that doesn’t mean I want to stay up all night frosting cupcakes. Simple but special treats that take under 5 minutes to prepare are much more up my alley. Here’s Janssen with […]

It’s time for St. Patricks Day books! Any time I flip over the calendar to see a new month, I know it’s time to start requesting holiday books from the library. With the Irish holiday just around the corner, these ten St. Patrick’s Day books are perfect for celebrating all things green and gold. Whether […]

I like making holidays special for my girls, but I don’t necessarily want to do something terribly complicated. These red velvet pancakes are surprisingly simple and super festive. Also, they aren’t loaded with sugar, which is important to me. With the cream cheese drizzle, you don’t need gobs of sugar in the pancake themselves (although you […]

Another January day, another post on how to make 2014 your best year ever. I’ve been thrilled to see you guys snatching up our eBook, Project Organize Your ENTIRE Life: The Quick Start Guide, and the accompanying 38 page planner printable pack but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate some of the other great reads […]